CLARE’S DISCIPLINE HAS come under the spotlight again after Sunday’s Munster hurling quarter-final.
The Banner County suffered red card woe for the third consecutive championship game, with Patrick Donnellan sent off at half-time.
Clare had Podge Collins dismissed in the drawn All-Ireland qualifier against Wexford last summer, with Jack Browne and Brendan Bugler following suit in the replay defeat.
And Bugler missed Sunday’s clash with Limerick through suspension, a carry-over from that red card against Wexford.
But manager Davy Fitzgerald had strongly rejected suggestions that Clare are a dirty team.
Speaking to reporters after the game, he said: “I’ll ask everyone a question here – do ye think we’re a dirty team? And do you think we foul a lot?
“And I feel if you really look inside your souls, you’ll see.”
Fitzgerald was privately aggrieved by the fact that Limerick’s Shane Dowling finished with ten points from frees.
Clare, in contrast, had five pointed frees from Colin Ryan in the first half but were awarded just one free in the entire second half.
“I don’t think we’re dirty. It’s hard but listen, I can’t do nothing.
“That’s the way it is and I’m not going to come out publicly and criticise anybody.
“Ye can make up yer own minds from whatever ye want.”
Fitzgerald also queried the amount of additional time at the end of the game, with Clare claiming that there should have been more than the one minute and 20 seconds extra that referee Colm Lyons played.
There was some confusion on the touchline as the public address announced one additional minute but the fourth official flashed up four minutes.
“I’m certain there was more extra-time than that,” Fitzgerald said.
“But we won’t be cribbing about it. We’ll take our defeat and move on.
“The players thought four and I thought four. That’s why I wasn’t worried.
“I thought we’d definitely get a leveller.
“We all thought it was four and so did the team. But listen they have their explanation for it.”
The Clare county board has indicated to the42 today that they won’t be appealing Donnellan’s red card, with suspension set to rule the captain out of Clare’s first qualifier match.
When a national team is playing the national broadcaster should be just allowed show the match without having to fight for the rights and/or pay out millions.
@Jason Ebbs: a scam to try and get an increase in the tv licence RTE and its licence fee is of another age shut it down a complete con
@Richard Russell: not that I’m justifying it, but there has not been licence increase since 2008. Plus it’s not going to increase this year because if there is an increase it happens in the budget.
@Jason Ebbs: they are showing it – this article is incorrect
What’s the point of a national broadcaster if they can’t show their national teams of major sporting events?
Telly bingo will be next !
Sky’s coverage is way better. End of
@Keith ☘️: it’s a no brainer with dodgy box readily available
@Keith ☘️: Sky sucks!
@Keith ☘️: that not the point and I’m not sure it’s true anyway. The point is the national broadcaster should show national games particularly ones of such importantance so everyone has the opportunity to watch it.
First the 6 nations now this…just scrap the place!!! Money pit!!!
Oh oh
They will asking for an higher licence fee.
Is anybody else going off the boys in green….I’m not even that bothered if we qualify
Probably be humiliated in the finals playing ape_man football…
Lads, what’s the problem? Find a cafe, use the wiki, and go onto the sky channel on Mobdro. Either way, it’s free.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: a cafe? To watch the game? I’d say you are a bundle of laughs
@Conor Alexander Lynott: Nothing like watching the match in Starbucks, the atmosphere is electric.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: besides going to a cafe to watch a game, mobdro is as useful as a waterproof teabag.
@Eric Gaffney: that got a good laugh out of me.
@Mel Roberts: A big group. big scree with Chromecast, pizza and a load of chocolate fudge cake and soft fizzy drinks, mot to mention coffee
for afterwards?I would have thought it would have been great craic with all the caffeine floating around, but each to their own All possible with a little negotiation beforehand. Gotta think outside the box, Rob.
@King B Probably useless for you because you have an Iphone. Works just fine on android
@Conor Alexander Lynott: aye sounds fun alright if you are a 14 year old girl!
@Mel Roberts: I’ll make sure Guiness include that line in their Guiness Clear ad. Nice innovation, son.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: is Friday, Friday gotta get down on Friday.
I am beginning to hate sports and sky. Fcuk you sky
€160 a year for a TV license means isn’t free to air for the viewer.
They have €50million to play with. They don’t have to do much fighting.
This article is incorrect – RTE will be showing the playoffs & the Slovakia gamme
Remember me da sayin in the late 90’s..” bbc show no England football anymore sky have the lot it’s a disgrace Ireland would never let that happen to Irish games” I replied “If sky buy the rights they’ll lose them” His reply. “no chance ever” Ok then…
Genius. Pay a fortune for matches that will probably be called off.